next page resource home © Lloyd Godman

Exposure Investigation 1

1. Find a contrasty subject like a sunrise or sunset.

2. Mount the camera on a tripod looking in the direction of the sun, frame the sun in the left or right side of the frame.

3. If the camera has a manual exposure mode, set the camera on manual. According to the meter system in the camera, set the aperture to f 8 and shutter speed setting to give the correct exposure.

4. Take image one on this exposure setting.

5. Leave the aperture on f8 and alter the shutter speed or TV (Time Value) by 2 stops and take image two, so the image is over exposed. (for instance, if the shutter speed is 1/125 sec change it to 1/30 sec). Remember some cameras allow the shutter speed to be adjusted in half stop or even third stop settings - alter the setting by 2 full stops. If your unsure, check this shutter speed setting scale.

6. Alter the shutter speed by another 2 stops so the image is over exposed by 4 stops from the original meter reading and take image three.

7. Shoot image four, but this time alter the shutter speed so as the image is 2 stops under exposed. This means if original shutter speed was 1/125 change it to 1/500.

8. Shoot image five, but this time alter the shutter speed so as the image is 4 stops under exposed. This means if original shutter speed was 1/125 change it to 1/2000.

If you can not remember how the shutter speed setting are organized, check this shutter speed setting scale.

9. Upload all the images onto your computer and look at the comparative difference of various tonal areas in the subject. Examine how the bright areas drop out with over exposure and how the darker areas lighten and show some texture.

Examine how the bright areas gain saturation with under exposure and how the darker areas tend to block up as a black and the texture disappears.